Intro – The Blues were looking to match their away form with their home form on this short trip to East Cheshire. Unfortunately their away day blues continued with what was a poor performance against an average team. Damian Skolorzynski was once again unavailable with work commitments and with Nathan Cotterell once again electing to play for Nantwich Town midfielder Robbie Hatton made his first start of the season wearing the Number Nine shirt.

First Half –

The visitors were the first to threaten, Callum Gardner linking well with Man-of-the-Match Ryan Steele before the latter cut inside and blasted the ball inches wide of the post. At the other end Will Foster had to be on his toes to cut out a dangerous cross.

The hosts piled on the pressure and put the Blues under pressure with a series of corners.

GOAL!! Ex-Blue goalkeeper Andy Jones did well with a double save to deny Steele and Robbie Hatton and Winsford were to regret their miss when Congleton won a corner at the other end and the ball was cleared to the unguarded Jonah O’Reilly who found the top corner from 25 yards.

GOAL!! On 19 minutes a poor throw-in presented the ball to the hosts and with the Winsford defence all over the place the cross from the left was converted from close range by Steve Foster.

Winsford continued playing attractive football in spite of the double setback and Steele in particular was having a field day against Martin Hill who seemed unable to compete with his pace and skill. Unfortunately all his hard work proved fruitless as the Blues could not apply the finishing touch.

There was a controversial moment on 40 minutes when a high ball over the top left Hatton with a run on goal but Jones came out of his area to intercept. To many it looked as though he had handled the ball but the Referee adjudged he had headed it.

GOAL!! The visitors pulled a goal back just before the break when Gardner’s inswinging corner was missed by Jones and Chris Middleton converted at the far post. It was back to Game On!

Second Half –

Spurred on after the break Danny Kerr’s shot cleared the bar as the Blues looked for an equaliser with Steele still causing havoc on the flanks.

GOAL!! All the good work meant nothing when Congleton added a third goal on 52 minutes. With the Winsford back four standing motionless appealing for offside against Foster they were caught by the unoriginal sucker punch when the onside Emil Adegbenro raced down the right before cutting in and scoring from a narrow angle with the visitor’s defenders racing back desperately trying to repair the damage.

Gardner was doing some good work in midfield and he created a couple of opening for himself. Unfortunately his finishing was not matching his skill on the ball with is efforts clearing the bar.

The introduction of Brandon Moores after his injury was encouraging and he should probably have scored on 79 minutes when he met a long cross from the right at the far post but his contact was weak and the travelling Blues supporters could not believe their eyes as the ball trickled across the goal and wide of the far post.

GOAL!! It was game set and match on 87 minutes when the usually reliable Mike Langley came out his his goal to clear a back pass. Unfortunately a bobble caused him to miss the ball altogether leaving the previously ineffective Declan Fletcher the simplest of tap-ins.

Verdict – A frustrating evenings football for the travelling supporters against the team they love to hate. Apart from the first goal the other three were eminently preventable and were a result of the defensive errors that have haunted the Blues on their journeys this season. There is loads of skill in the team, particularly in attacking midfield but some positions in defence need strengthening sooner rather than later. With no out-and-out striker available Winsford are not making the best of the many chances they create.

Blues Man-of-the-Match

Ryan Steele

Head and shoulders the best player on the pitch. The Blues were not the same after his substitution.

Next Best

Will Foster

Still looking classy in spite of the players around him.

As voted by the opponents

Ryan Steele

Opponents Man-of-the-Match

Emini Adegbenro

Match Rating

A A A

Blues Rating

A A

About Us

Winsford United Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Winsford, Cheshire that has enjoyed a long proud history as full members of The Football Association. The club was founded in 1883 and are nicknamed The Blues. The club is currently a member of the North West Counties League Premier Division, with home matches played at Barton Stadium.

WINSFORD UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED IS REGISTERED AT COMPANIES HOUSE AS BEING A COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES: COMPANY NUMBER 0435726